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Vision and your children

CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CHILD’S SIGHT?

Six signs there may be a vision problem

A CHILD’S DEVELOPMENTRELIES HEAVILY ON VISUAL INPUT.

Especially for their learning processes.

However, children also have a tendency to not complain about troubles relating to vision and it’s important to keep an eye out for any symptoms as they could indicate an underlying problem with your child’s sight.

What arethe signs?

Not all vision problems will present with immediately obvious symptoms but there are habits and signs you can look for that could tell you if your child has sight related issues.

1. Sitting close to the TV, or holding books very near to their eyes.

If your child sits close to the TV or any other screens, or needs to hold books close to their eyes, they could be near sighted, or have problems with focusing their eyes.

2. Rubbing their eyes frequently, or sore or bloodshot eyes.

Regular eye rubbing, sore or bloodshot eyes, or complaints about blurred or double vision could mean your child has astigmatism. These signs can also relate to short or long-sightedness, or indicate problems with eye focus or coordination.

3. Difficulty with reading or writing.

Difficulty reading and writing can be indicative of a number of eye-related problems, therefore it is important to know exactly what issues your child is having.

Signs that your child could have issues with focusing their eyes, difficulty with tracking objects, or trouble with eye coordination include: Often losing their place when reading, having to use their finger to guide their sight, struggling to read for long periods of time, poor comprehensive skills, or moving their head excessively when reading, rather than their eyeballs.

Making mistakes with words that look similar or having difficulty recognizing letters and words could indicate faulty visual form perception.

Sloppy handwriting or drawing could mean they have trouble with visual motor integration, whilst mistaking left and right sides or reversing letters and words could be a sign of issues with laterality or directionality.

4. Sensitivity to light.

Sensitivity to light could be a result of a number of underlying eye problems, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, or conjunctivitis.

5. Closing one eye when reading or watching TV.

If your child closes one eye or places a hand over one eyes when reading or watching TV, this could mean that they have refractive or binocular vision problems. This is related to the eyes’ ability to coordinate and work together as a team.

6. Squinting or tilting their head to see more.

Frequent squinting or tilting their head could be a sign that your child has astigmatism, or long- or short-sightedness.

If you spot any of these signs in your child’s behaviour, take them to an eye specialist for a consultation. Learn more about eye problems in children and eye care.